WWE Main Event 1/9/2013

Sheamus squares off against Dolph Ziggler while Zack Ryder gets a match with WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett!

World Wrestling Entertainment presents Main Event
Date: 1/9/2013
From: Miami, FL

Backstage, Sheamus talks about Dolph Ziggler and how he thinks Ziggler is afraid to cash in his briefcase. He is confident that he will win the Rumble and wrestle for the title at Mania. Sheamus has a Brogue Kick for everyone Ziggler has with him tonight.

Backstage, Josh Matthews interviews Dolph Ziggler, or tries to. Big E. Langston cuts him off and stutters a few times before scaring Matthews off.

Opening Contest: Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler
Sheamus starts the match working on Ziggler’s left arm. Ziggler battles back with a series of strikes in the corner but Sheamus drops him with a forearm shot. Sheamus with a scoop slam and leg drop for a near fall. Ziggler bails to the floor to avoid the Brogue Kick as the show goes to a commercial.

Ziggler is pummeled in the corner by Sheamus, who hits a rolling fireman’s carry for a near fall. Dolph stops Sheamus with a swinging neckbreaker. Sheamus breaks a sleeper hold by falling backwards. Ziggler with a two count after a dropkick. Sheamus misses a spear in the corner and hits the ring post. Ziggler missed a splash in the corner and Sheamus goes back on the attack. Ziggler avoids White Noise but Sheamus clubs his chest several times on the apron. Sheamus leaps off the apron to hit a shoulder block on Ziggler as we go to commercial.

Sheamus fights his way back from fhe apron and attempts a slingshot but Ziggler jumps up and drives Sheamus face first into the canvas for a two count. That seemed more like botch. Sheamus delivers a backbreaker but only manages to get a near fall. Sheamus attempts the Cloverleaf and locks it in but Ziggler reaches the bottom rope. Dolph drops Sheamus across the top rope from the apron and heads to the top rope where he hits a perfect missile dropkick! Sheamus kicks Ziggler in the corner and went to the top but Ziggler runs up and plants Sheamus with a DDT! Of course, Sheamus kicks out and destroys the DDT finishing move even more.

Sheamus hits a top rope shoulder block for a near fall. Sheamus signals for the Brogue Kick but Ziggler ducks and misses his superkick. Sheamus nails Ziggler with te Brogue Kick but Ziggler rolls to the floor! The referee makes the count and Ziggler is counted out.

After the match, Big E. Langston teases getting into the ring but doesn’t.

Your Winner: Sheamus by count-out
Match Rating: ***: I understand the count-out finish for this. The match was solid but I wouldn’t say it’s “must see” like some people have been saying. The top rope DDT spot really bugged me and was unnecessary to the match. That’s something you’d see in ROH, I feel like.

Main Event: WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett vs. Zack Ryder
Ryder voices his displeasure about being skipped over when WWE listed guys that have the most followers on Twitter. So, he gets booked here. His crowd reactions continue to dwindle.

Barrett delivers a few elbow strikes in the corner to get control on Ryder. Ryder arm drags Wade to get some momentum. Wade kicks Ryder in the gut to put a stop to that. Barrett hits a pumphandle slam for a near fall. Ryder flapjacks Barrett for a two count. Wade drops Ryder back and neck first across the ropes from the apron as we go to commercial.

Wade delivers a series of knee strikes to Ryder and big boots Ryder to the floor. Barrett hits a suplex on Ryder from the apron back into the ring. Barrett hits a middle rope elbow drop for a near fall. Ryder drives Barrett face first into the canvas. Ryder leaps off the middle rope to hit a missile dropkick. Zack hits a leaping forearm shot in the corner but Barrett leaves and returns to hit a swinging side slam. Ryder counters a vertical suplex with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Ryder drop toe holds Barrett into the corner and nails the champ with a running boot but can’t get a three count. Barrett avoids the Rough Ryder and Barrett hits the Bull Hammer to win the match.

Your Winner: WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett
Match Rating: **1/4: A decent match, but Ryder is losing any steam to make the fans get behind him. If this match happened six months ago the crowd would’ve been really into it, but they don’t have any reason to care about Ryder.

Next week, Randy Orton will meet WWE United States Champion Antonio Cesaro!

Final Thoughts:
A solid edition this week with Ziggler/Sheamus putting on a good match and the second bout wasn’t too bad. I’m interested to see Orton/Cesaro in a singles match next week, for sure.

Thanks for reading.